Due to development and the clearing of land that comes with more houses and more buildings, the maritime forests of North Carolina's coast are in danger of vanishing. Given the benefits they provide the coastal environment, many are working to prevent this loss.

North Carolina has a unique resource: oceanfront forests. Despite the inhospitable environment, maritime forests such as these provide barrier islands along the state's coast with special benefits that include anchoring the shifting sands, storing fresh water, and adding soil.